February 13, 2019

Duckworth Highlights National Security Value of Diplomacy, American Alliances in Asia at Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing yesterday, U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) discussed the importance of alliances in the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) region with INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Philip S. Davidson. Duckworth questioned the admiral on the recent Asia Reassurance Initiative Act and how it will affect U.S. relations in the region, particularly with the Republic of Korea and Japan. Duckworth also discussed the importance of transportation and logistics networks in the Pacific. Video of her questions during the hearing is available here.

“I don’t think it’s something we stress enough,” Duckworth said. “I think that the successes we’re having in the region diplomatically and politically really stem from the fact that we have a solid alliance militarily between U.S., Korea and Japan, and that must remain strong in order for us to move forward on the other fronts.”

Duckworth is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), which has jurisdiction over the nation’s common defense, military operations, servicemember pay and retirement, military family benefits and the selective service system. SASC also oversees the Department of Defense, the United States Armed Services and several other national security-related issues at home and abroad. Duckworth served on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee for four years before joining the Senate.

INDOPACOM is a unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces responsible for the Indo-Pacific region under the U.S. Department of Defense. The area of responsibility comprises 36 nations, covering more of the globe of any of the other geographic combatant commands. INDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Asia-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies and deterring aggression.

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